Portugal’s Prime Minister, António Costa, has announced he would resign as head of state in the wake of a corruption scandal involving energy contracts.

Costa in a nationally televised address on Tuesday said that “in these circumstances, obviously, I have presented my resignation to the president of the republic.”

Costa's shocking announcement came hours after Portuguese police arrested his chief of staff while raiding several public buildings and other properties as part of a widespread corruption probe, New Indian Express reports.

The Supreme Court, the state prosecutor’s office said, was also examining the suspects’ “use of the prime minister’s name and his involvement to unlock” the practices being probed.

The 62-year-old Costa, Portugal’s Socialist leader since 2015, defended his innocence and teared up while thanking his family for their support through the years.

“I totally trust the justice system," he said. “I want to say eye to eye to the Portuguese, that my conscience is clear of any illicit or censured act.”

“If there are suspicions, than the judicial authorities are free to look into them ... I am not above the law."

Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to accept Costa's resignation.

An investigative judge issued arrest warrants for Vítor Escária, Costa’s chief of staff, the mayor of the town of Sines, and three other people because they represented a flight risk and to protect evidence, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

It said that the Minister of Infrastructure João Galamba and the head of the country’s environmental agency were among those named as suspects.

The judge is investigating alleged malfeasance, corruption of elected officials, and influence peddling related to lithium mine concessions near Portugal’s northern border with Spain, and plans for a green hydrogen plant and data center in Sines, on the south coast.

The raids included the premises of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Sines town council, private homes and offices.

The prosecutor’s office said that the probe has determined that the “suspects invoked the name of the prime minister” when carrying out their allegedly illicit activities.

Antonio Costa has been the Prime Minister of Portugal since 2015. He is half Indian and half Portuguese.

wman:
These are people that have shame and respect. Unlike Nigerian politicians.

Oscarpro:
Naija politicians just left the group chat !!!

Tjra:

Our Politicians no get shame.

Just the way Atiku was enmeshed in Halliburton scandal. Tinubu na Lagos Treasury. And Obi the Saint nko? He looted Anambra Treasury without mercy.